Power appliance



April 22, 1.930. l.. c. UPTON ET AL POWER `APPLIANCE Filed OCT.. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l nu E e mw@ April 22, 1930. L. c. UPTON ET AL POWER APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @VEP-@ERE Patented Apr. 22, 1930 i UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS C. 'UPTON AND GUSTAV B. KEIL, OF ST. JOSEPH, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS, BY

IVIESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NINETEEN HUNDRED CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF N EW YORK POWER APPLIANCE Application led October 5, r1925. Serial No. 60,412.

This invention relates to a power appliance. It comprises a separate unit embodying a vertical shaft which is geared at its respective ends to either driving or driven 5 members. The driving member may be 1n the formV of a wind wheel, motor or other source of power. The driven member may be any form of rotary device or otherwise, to

which it is desired to apply power.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combinations hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings which il lustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the power appliance with portions broken away to show the connection .of the driving and driven members;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the power appliance; and

Figure 3 is an elevational view kof a washing machine showing the application of our power appliance to such machine.

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention there is shown a vertical Shaft 1, the lower end of which is journalled in the bearing 2 integral with a housing 3. A pinion 4 is rigidly secured upon the lower end of the shaft 1. The pinion 4 meshes with a pinion 5 rigidly secured upon a transverse Shaft 6 journalled in suitable longitudinal bearings 7 in the housing 3. A large spur gear 8 is secured'upon this shaft within the housing. In the present embodiment of this invention we have shown the shaft 6 as projecting beyond one end of the bearing and provided with a crank arm 9 having a wrist pin 10 for connection with a pitman 11 which is adapted to be connected to the crank arm 12 of a rotar clothes agitating device in the casing or cy inder 13 of a washing machine. However, it is contemplated that any other device may be driven by the crank 9.

The transverse shaft may be rotated by a small pinion 15 secured coaxially to a pulley 16 which pulley is connected by a belt 17 to a pulley 18 on a motor shaft, the motor 19 of which is shown as suitably supported in the framework of the washing machine. The Vertical shaft 1 extends through a sleeve or vertical column 20 upon which suitable attaching brackets 21 may be adjustably secured by set screws 21a whereby the power appliance may be secured in upright position. Upon the upper end of the sleeve 2O there is a cylindrical sleeve 22 provided with a flange or seat 23 having suitable locking notches 24 `for a purpose that will later appear. f

Rotatably positioned upon the seat 23 there is the lower seat 25 of a housing 26, the upper end of which forms a substantially spherical cavity 27. The lower neck portion of this housing 26 is provided with a pair of ears 28 to which a latch 29 is pivoted. This latch is adapted to engage the notches 24 for locking the housing 26 against rotation. In the present instance this housing 26 is shown as supporting a clothes wringer. It may, however, serve for other purposes.

The shaft 1 extends into the spherical cavity 27 of the housing 26 and its upper end rigidly supports a bevelled pinion 30 which is constantly meshed with a pair of pinions 31 and 32 loosely mounted upon a shaft 33 journalled diametrically of the spherical cavity 27. A clutch member 34 is slidably splined upon the shaft 33. This clutch member is provided with the usual peripheral groove for engaging a finger 35 on the operating shaft 36 to the upper end of which a handle 37 is secured. The hub of this handle has a V-shaped notch 38 adapted for engaging the V-shaped recess in the housing for locking the clutch member in neutral position. A shaft section 39 is coupled by a suitable coupling 40 to the shaft 33.

It will be appreciated that the power appliance involving this invention may be used in any machine or apparatus where it is desired to transmit power from one point to another. Thus, if desired, a wind wheel may be connected to the shaft 39 for rotating the shaft 1 for operating a pump or the like attached to the crank arm. However, instead of a pump, other forms of devices may be connected to be operated by the vertical shaft and if itis desired to reverse the action of-such devices the lever 37 may be shiftedfor con-` necting the appropriate gear 31 With the shaft and While We have shovvn this power appliance in connection With a Washing machine it should be understood that it is not limited vto such use.A g

n It Will he further appreciated that the separateandunitary structure of the appliance i w embodying the attaching bracketsaffords a commercial structure'that can be readily applied and used in many instances.

We are'aWare that numerous details of construction may be varied through a Wide range v gw vWithoutV departing from the principles of this invention, and We therefore do not purpose e rlimiting the patentgranted hereon, otherwise than necessitated loy the prior art. We Iclaim as our invention:

i In a power appliance,`a vertical sleeve hav-y ing a housing adapted for housing power `mechanism-on the upper endof said sleeve', a shaft connected to the said power mechanismfand extending through `the sleeve, shaft driving means connected to the shaft at its lower endr'and means onlthe sleeve for supporting the said sleeve and the said powery mechanism and the said shaft whereby the said shaft is adapted to befleXihly-coupled to the said shaft vdriving means, said supporting means comprising a plurality of spaced collars upon said sleeve, said collars having attachingvanges and means for adjustably securing the collars on the saidosleeve.

In testimony whereof, We yhave hereunto subscribed our names.

` LOUIS @.UPTON. GUSTAV B. KEIL.

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